1X3.15.18.11.5.18

Ah, that title fooled you, didn't it?!  Let me explain, it has been brought to my attention that certain sinister but un-named parties are taking a keen interest in what goes on here at Duff & Nonsense.  My masterly briefing, based on secret sources, detailing the intricacies of the internal power politics within the North Korean polit-bureau (see second post below) is but one example of my incredible knowledge and expertise which is now eagerly sought after by enemies.  Consequently, it has been necessary for me to encode my posts and with the aid of a colossal computer programme based on my mathematical insights (Maths 'O' Level failed but only because the miserable markers couldn't understand my genius) I have encoded the title to this post with a devilishly cunning cipher which is impossible to break!

The other reason that has provoked me into the complex world of codes and ciphers is a terrific book by Michael Smith, the defence correspondent of The Telegraph, called The Emperor's Codes:  Bletchley Park's Role in Breaking Japan's Secret Ciphers.  I have only reached page 44 and already I am shaking my head in disbelief at the incredible genius of some of our people and the unbelievable bone-headed stupidity of others.

I was particularly taken with the introduction to the book which contradicts what I had hitherto believed, that whilst we broke the German codes, particularly the famous Enigma, it was solely the Americans who broke the Japanese codes.  Not so, apparently, because we started breaking their naval and diplomatic codes long before the Americans were even in the game.  I hasten to add, that once they were in they did a tremendous job and the only fly in the ointment was that the US Navy branch dealing with this work refused to co-operate not only with us but with their own army counterparts, as well!

I have learned, to my surprise, that the Brits, or at least a select few keen types in the Code & Cipher Office barely supported by their superiors, concentrated on the Japs immediately after WWI and thinking the Germans to be a spent force they virtually ignored them until the late '30s - almost the too-late-'30s!  Their other main code-breaking targets in the '20s were the Soviet Union (natch!) and - delicious irony - the United States.

I will keep you posted as I get further into this book - but remember, mums the word and walls have ears!!!

 

Comments

[dearieme]

Do you buy all these books, Duffers, or are you a Public Library man?

[JK]

I might well be wrong (however that's never been a hindrance) but didn't the Poles play some part in the machinations?

[David Duff]

Alas, DM, I'm a Bookaholic and have to be dragged screaming and kicking past any bookshop but yesterday I was on my own so I just sneaked in for a quick look . . . !

JK, yes, the Poles were the first to crack the Enigma machine and, bless their mad, passionate, little socks they managed to get the results to us (inlcuding, I believe, an actual machine) just before the Germans over-ran their country. Later the Germans changed the design settings so we had to start all over again.

[JK]

"...[T]he only fly in the ointment was that the US Navy branch dealing with this work refused to co-operate not only with us but with their own army counterparts, as well..."

The above David, I must admit, surprised even me. But it did give me something to do while the rest of my American kin/friends were otherwise engaged - all I need do is show up to eat, I enjoy no requests to participate in preparation, despite my oft admired ability to open cans of cranberry variants.

The USN, as I understand it, did co-operate with the US Army early in the Pacific effort but "reluctance" surfaced immediately following Midway. You may recall the USAF did not exist separate from the Army prior to '48 - too you may know, the US Army Air Force dispatched a squadron of B-17s toward Midway during the run-up to the USN's "laying the trap" to lure in the Jap carriers. And, though at this point I'm uncertain, I'm pretty sure the Japs would've been doing recon over Midway and had B-17s been detected - well... of course I am limited to conjecture at present - but "my guess" is, the Japs might've considered "the presence of AAF, USMC, and Navy components present for a minor de-salinization problem seems somehow odd..."

But do understand, this is only conjecture on my part.

As for changing the Enigma settings - it's my understanding the Germans only added a single 'type-set wheel' but did not change the "period-adjustments" which would leave the Polish achievements intact.

I have no argument (nor reasonable theory - given the Historical context) for doubting the British Navy would have had more incentive to "break" Japanese Naval codes than any other maritime power of the era. "We" in the US should always keep that in mind.

[dearieme]

Here's a pleasant American treat: Rex Stewart's solo in honour of Bix.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svh-Xr1gJ_g

[David Duff]

JK, I cannot find any reference in the books I have to this dispute between US Navy and Army code-breakers but no doubt Smith will spell it out later in his book. It did not surprise me given the mutual hostility (I use the word deliberately) between Adm. King and not only the army but everyone else in the world who wasn't US navy! In particular there was a perpetual turf war between King and McArthur over strategy in the Pacific.

I have checked my books and can find no reference to any disupte over the stationing of B-17s on Midway other than the 9 extras which arrived on 31st May and the only complaint was that an already existing problem of over-crowding was now exacerbated.

As for the Enigma machine, as I understand it, whilst the possession of an actual machine was extremely useful it still required the likes of Alan Turing to design the world's first programmable computer, the 'Colossus', to work out susequent ciphers.

As and when I progress with Smith's book I will add another post.

[David Duff]

DM, thanks for the link which I would dearly loved to have listened to but I had the usual stop/start problems. I think it must be something to do with my machine but fortunately 'SoD' is coming down at the weekend so I will see if he can fix it. Bloody irritating - grrrr!

[H]

One unamusing piece of boneheadedness - which may be apocryphal for all I know - was that the Foreign Office acquired an early version of the Enigma machine before the war, more or less as a trade sample. It remained in the basement, unremarked and gathering dust, as the desperated attempts to capture one from the Germans became increasingly frenzied...

[David Duff]

I haven't heard that one before, 'H', but I would not be surprised. I suppose the final irony would have been if it was only discovered when the place was hit by a V1!